News (Media Awareness Project) - New Zealand: Cannabis Costliest Drug To Police |
| Title: | New Zealand: Cannabis Costliest Drug To Police |
| Published On: | 2001-05-29 |
| Source: | Evening Post (New Zealand) |
| Fetched On: | 2008-01-25 18:32:23 |
CANNABIS COSTLIEST DRUG TO POLICE
Police spent nearly twice as much time and money policing cannabis as
they did hard-core drugs in the last five years.
From 1995 to 2000, police spent $101 million and used 1.4 million
hours on cannabis offences, compared with $55 million and 775,000
hours on all other drugs.
During that time, the amount spent on cannabis offences has increased
from $17m to $21.5m a year. Spending on all other drugs has increased
$4m to $12.5m a year.
The next most commonly policed drugs included methamphetamines, LSD,
and painkillers such as codeine.
Green MP Nandor Tanczos said spending on cannabis was out of hand
when compared to harder drugs such as methamphetamines. "Its a total
waste of police time and money," he said.
"That time and money would be much better spent on investigating
crimes of burglary and violence."
It was up to the Government to do something about cannabis
prohibition so police had more time to deal with other crimes. He
said the health select committee would start hearing submissions on
the legal status of cannabis this week.
"It is clear to anyone with an open mind that the current law is
failing to reduce the abuse of cannabis and, in fact, may be
encouraging it," he said.
A police national spokeswoman said the time spent on cannabis did not
detract from other areas.
"This is primarily a volume issue. The police deal with a lot more
cannabis offences than crimes involving harder drugs.
"This is probably because of the home-grown nature of cannabis, and
the fact that border controls help keep the importation of harder
drugs to a relatively low level," she said.
She would not say if police thought it was more important to focus on
certain types of drug. "The law has distinguished the differences
between cannabis and harder drugs."
Police Association regional director Mike Wall said the association
supported the money spent on policing cannabis.
"In my experience if it saves one person it's worth it," he said. "We
would support increased funding to fight harder drugs and cannabis."
Police spent nearly twice as much time and money policing cannabis as
they did hard-core drugs in the last five years.
From 1995 to 2000, police spent $101 million and used 1.4 million
hours on cannabis offences, compared with $55 million and 775,000
hours on all other drugs.
During that time, the amount spent on cannabis offences has increased
from $17m to $21.5m a year. Spending on all other drugs has increased
$4m to $12.5m a year.
The next most commonly policed drugs included methamphetamines, LSD,
and painkillers such as codeine.
Green MP Nandor Tanczos said spending on cannabis was out of hand
when compared to harder drugs such as methamphetamines. "Its a total
waste of police time and money," he said.
"That time and money would be much better spent on investigating
crimes of burglary and violence."
It was up to the Government to do something about cannabis
prohibition so police had more time to deal with other crimes. He
said the health select committee would start hearing submissions on
the legal status of cannabis this week.
"It is clear to anyone with an open mind that the current law is
failing to reduce the abuse of cannabis and, in fact, may be
encouraging it," he said.
A police national spokeswoman said the time spent on cannabis did not
detract from other areas.
"This is primarily a volume issue. The police deal with a lot more
cannabis offences than crimes involving harder drugs.
"This is probably because of the home-grown nature of cannabis, and
the fact that border controls help keep the importation of harder
drugs to a relatively low level," she said.
She would not say if police thought it was more important to focus on
certain types of drug. "The law has distinguished the differences
between cannabis and harder drugs."
Police Association regional director Mike Wall said the association
supported the money spent on policing cannabis.
"In my experience if it saves one person it's worth it," he said. "We
would support increased funding to fight harder drugs and cannabis."
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